Career and Education Opportunities for Logistics Specialists in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

There is a wide variety of career and education opportunities for logistics specialists in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. About 1,550 people are currently employed as logistics specialists in Wisconsin. By 2016, this is expected to grow 15% to about 1,770 people employed. This is not quite as good as the national trend for logistics specialists, which sees this job pool growing by about 19.6% over the next eight years. In general, logistics specialists analyze and coordinate the logistical functions of a firm or organization.

Income for logistics specialists is about $29 hourly or $61,130 yearly on average in Wisconsin. Nationally, their income is about $31 per hour or $66,480 annually. Logistics specialists earn more than people working in the category of Logistics and Planning generally in Wisconsin and more than people in the Logistics and Planning category nationally. Jobs in this field include: integrated logistics support manager , logistics planner, and logistics analyst.

There are four schools within twenty-five miles of Milwaukee where you can study to be a logistics specialist, among thirty-nine schools of higher education total in the Milwaukee area. The most common level of education for logistics specialists is a Bachelor's degree. You can expect to spend about four years training to become a logistics specialist if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Logistics Specialist

In general, logistics specialists analyze and coordinate the logistical functions of a firm or organization. They also responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, and final disposal of resources.

Logistics specialists report project plans and results. They also collaborate with other departments as needed to fit customer requirements, to take advantage of sales opportunities or, in the case of shortages, to minimize negative impacts on a business. Equally important, logistics specialists have to furnish project management services, including the provision and analysis of technical data. They are often called upon to explain proposed solutions to customers or other interested parties through written proposals and oral presentations. They are expected to develop an understanding of customers' needs and take actions to insure that such needs are met. Finally, logistics specialists participate in the assessment and review of layout alternatives and layout change proposal impacts.

Every day, logistics specialists are expected to be able to think through problems and come up with general rules. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for logistics specialists to direct team efforts, establishing task priorities, scheduling and tracking work assignments and ensuring the availability of resources. They are often called upon to redesign the movement of goods to maximize value and minimize costs. They also inspect logistics performance with customers against targets, benchmarks and service agreements. They are sometimes expected to direct availability and allocation of materials and finished products. Somewhat less frequently, logistics specialists are also expected to oversee subcontractor efforts, reviewing proposals, developing performance specifications, and serving as liaisons between subcontractors and organizations.

Logistics specialists sometimes are asked to protect and control proprietary materials. And finally, they sometimes have to develop an understanding of customers' needs and take actions to insure that such needs are met.

Like many other jobs, logistics specialists must have exceptional integrity and be reliable.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Logistics Specialist Training

Milwaukee Area Technical College - Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Area Technical College, 700 W State St, Milwaukee, WI 53233-1443. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a large college located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs. It has 18,780 students and an admission rate of 54%. Milwaukee Area Technical College has 2 areas of study related to Logistics Specialist. They are:

Operations Management and Supervision, associate's degree which graduated 39 students in 2008.

Waukesha County Technical College - Pewaukee, WI

Waukesha County Technical College, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072-4601. Waukesha County Technical College is a medium sized college located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 6,955 students. Waukesha County Technical College has a less than one year and an associate's degree program in Operations Management and Supervision which graduated nine and twenty students respectively in 2008.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Milwaukee, WI

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2200 E Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a large university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 28,995 students and an admission rate of 96%. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has a bachelor's degree program in Operations Management and Supervision which graduated nine students in 2008.

Gateway Technical College - Kenosha, WI

Gateway Technical College, 3520 30th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53144-1690. Gateway Technical College is a medium sized college located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 7,587 students. Gateway Technical College has an associate's degree program in Operations Management and Supervision which graduated twenty students in 2008.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified in Transportation and Logistics:
AST&L is the premier professional organization that develops and administers the Certification in Transportation Logistics.

APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional:
The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is a new industry educational and certification program created to meet the rapidly changing needs of the supply chain management field.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin photo by Towpilot

Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. It has a population of over 604,477, which has grown by 1.3% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Milwaukee, 87, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Milwaukee cost $167,400 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, ninety-six new homes were built in Milwaukee, down from one hundred sixty-seven the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Milwaukee are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is administrative and support and waste management services, construction, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 23 minutes. More than 18.3% of Milwaukee residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 6.0%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Milwaukee is 10.6%, which is greater than Wisconsin's average of 7.7%.

The percentage of Milwaukee residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 47.5%, is less than both the national and state average. Church of the Epiphany, Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church and German Full Gospel Church are among the churches located in Milwaukee. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Milwaukee is home to the Caroline Hall and the Wood as well as Cannon Park and Fifth Ward Playground. Shopping malls in the area include Juneau Village Shopping Center, Times Square Shopping Center and Grand Avenue Mall Shopping Center. Visitors to Milwaukee can choose from Edge-O-Town Motel, Manor House Hotel and Days Inn West Allis for temporary stays in the area.